I was tired of his judgmental stares and anger. I was tired of being blamed for the incident with the werewolves. And I was tired of letting myself feel guilty for it when he shared the blame, too.
“Do you have a better idea?” I asked, crossing my arms.
Oliver clenched his teeth, pressing his lips together. He shook his head stiffly.
“Manuel, you stay with the refugees,” Alba said. “You’re the only one who can sense demons before they attack.” Her eyes drifted to me and Oliver. “The rest of you, come with me. I’ll show you the direction the demons will approach from.”
Alba snatched my elbow and dragged me forward so forcefully that I stumbled a few steps. I hurried to match her pace as we slipped through the kitchen and out the front door. Behind us, the rest of the coven followed except for Manuel, who lingered in the kitchen with the refugees.
“What is it?” I asked, pulling my arm out of Alba’s grip.
She stopped and slapped a familiar flask into my palm. Her eyes met mine, scolding me. She leaned closer to me as the rest of the coven filed out of the restaurant.
“Do not go anywhere without this flask,” she muttered, “or you may miss your opportunity.”
I swallowed. Embarrassment stuck in my throat. I’d completely forgotten. Nodding, I took the flask and patted my dress for any space to tuck it into.
Alba sighed and muttered,
“Surround this object, change and alter it,
So it may rest upon her neck.”
The flask glowed blue and then shrank to the size of a small vial. A long, silver chain snaked around it.
Without preamble, Alba shoved my shoulders, spinning me away from her as she clasped the chain around my neck. The cool vial rested comfortably on my collarbone. I traced it with my finger and looked at Alba.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
Alba’s mouth lifted in a half-smile. “You’ve helped us too. Your idea was a good one. Let’s just hope our forces will outnumber theirs. I didn’t get a good look at the size of the demon clan.”
Oliver was the last to exit the restaurant. The door closed behind him, and he looked at me with something unreadable in his eyes. A strong emotion I couldn’t place stirred in his face. Confusion? Curiosity? Regret? I met his gaze with what I hoped was a neutral expression. I didn’t want to betray how much his cold behavior stung me. Especially after my vulnerable moments with him.
I swallowed. I’d never even opened up to José like that, and now Oliver was treating me as if we didn’t know each other. Or worse—as if we hated each other.
Clenching my teeth, I turned away from his gaze, though I still felt his eyes drilling holes into the back of my head.
Alba closed her eyes for a long moment. Her eyelids fluttered, revealing small strips of her all-white eyes as the vision took over. Her arms twitched, and then her head snapped forward, eyes opening.
“West,” she said. “Toward the courthouse.”
I drew my athame and followed the crowd, attempting to tread as stealthily as the others did, though my clumsy movements screamed against my ears. I was practically a beacon alerting the demons to our presence.
Why am I even here? I thought, angry with myself. Oh, yeah, because this was my idea. Lilith, I hope this works.
By now the alleys and streets were somewhat familiar to me. We passed the shop where we’d encountered the vampires and the flower shop Oliver and I had hidden in yesterday—when we’d exposed our fears and desires and insecurities and then he’d pretended it never happened.
Then we passed the red door leading to the mortal realm. I’d never been beyond this point in the magical realm. The buildings still looked the same, though the air churned with magical energy. The clocktower glowed an ethereal green. I was inexplicably reminded of the bat signal in Batman and wondered if it was similar. When I cast a spell at the clock face, did a huge light project into the sky to alert the coven to my cry for help? The corners of my mouth twitched as I imagined it.
“Stop smirking, and focus on your movements,” a voice hissed beside me. “You’re sloppy and noisy.”
I glanced next to me at Elena, my nostrils flaring. Her eyes were fixed ahead at the coven members in front of us, but a superior, self-satisfied smugness crept into her expression.
“Sorry, I was too busy paying attention to your bitchy attitude,” I snapped. As the words tumbled from my mouth, I clamped my lips shut. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Elena snorted. “Insult my attitude all you want. It won’t help you. You’re still the most pathetic Huntress I’ve ever seen.”
I’d had enough. I didn’t even belong in this stupid time period. I was sick of the hostility and judgments from these people who didn’t even know me.
I shoved my forearm against Elena’s throat and pinned her to the door of the building next to us. Her head slammed against the wood, and her eyes widened in shock and anger.
“What’s your problem?” I demanded through clenched teeth. “Is this about Oliver? Because you can have him. I couldn’t care less. Or is it because I’m not a Huntress like you? Well news flash, not everyone wants to spill demon blood for a living! So maybe instead of criticizing my every move, you can offer me helpful advice that might help me save some lives! Otherwise, swallow your pride and leave me the hell alone!”
Elena thrust out her arms and Pushed me. The force tossed me a few feet until I crumpled in a heap on the concrete. My arms and legs scraped against the ground.
“Enough!” Alba shouted, weaving through the witches and warlocks to stand between us, her eyes blazing. “Whatever the problem is between you two, save it for later. Your petty argument is risking all our lives!”
I staggered to my
